Shloka 26
रणभूमिवर्णनम् — Devāsuropama-yuddha and the ‘River’ Metaphor of the Battlefield
गौतमो दक्षिणे पाश्वे शकैश्न यवनै: सह । अश्वत्थामा पृष्ठतो5भूत् काम्बोजै: परिवारित:
sañjaya uvāca | gautamo dakṣiṇe pārśve śakaiś ca yavanaiḥ saha | aśvatthāmā pṛṣṭhato 'bhūt kāmbojaiḥ parivāritaḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—दक्षिणे पाश्वे गौतमः शकैः सह यवनैश्च स्थितः। पृष्ठभागे तु काम्बोजैः परिवारितोऽश्वत्थामा व्यवस्थितः॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined placement and collective duty in war: commanders accept assigned roles—flank and rear protection—to uphold their side’s safety. Ethically, it underscores how dharma in a battlefield context often appears as loyalty and responsibility within a tragic, destructive conflict.
Sañjaya describes positions within the Kaurava formation: Kṛpācārya (Gautama) stands on the right with Śaka and Yavana troops, while Aśvatthāmā holds the rear, surrounded by Kāmboja warriors—indicating a guarded, structured deployment.